Archive for the ‘transporting collector cars’ tag

In the new issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car, Bill Ingler of Scottsdale, Arizona tells a story about driving his dad’s 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6B from Columbus, Ohio to Sarasota, Florida in 1953; part of the reason was because there were no transportation services at that time. But there were when he took possession of the Hisso in 1971 and he decided to bring it back to Ohio. Here is his tale.

“My dad retired in January 1953 and bought a home in Sarasota FL two months later. In June of that year, I drove the car to Florida. It sat in Dad’s garage for the 14 years, as dad was more interested in boats than cars at that time. Their home was a few hundred feet from the Gulf of Mexico, and humidity is not kind to cars, so in about 1967 I got my dad to get it restored. At this time, it was painted yellow and black–similar to a previous paint scheme it wore. In 1971 he passed the car to me.

“At that time there was only one closed auto carrier company hauling cars with a truck and trailer. The trailer carried only two cars at a time. The driver picked up the car in Sarasota, and was to deliver it to Tom Lester`s shop in Cleveland Ohio for a complete service. Drive time was said to be three days. Well, three days went by, and no car at Lesters. Then four days, then five. I called the hauling company, and they did not know where my car and their trailer were–which did not sit well with me. Finally, several days later, the trailer and the Hispano were found in a rest area in Tennessee. It seems the driver got sick, unhooked the trailer, and drove to a hospital where he spent several days–and didn’t bother to tell anyone.

It’s not necessary to develop an ulcer over worrying about who’s going to haul your car and whether it’ll arrive at its destination in one piece, provided you’ve done your homework and contracted with a reputable transporter schooled in the fine art of hauling classic cars across the country.

One of the first things you’ll find out about transportation companies: There are a lot of them. Many of them carry your normal, everyday cars for people relocating across the country, while many focus specifically on collector cars. There is also a wide spectrum of transporters, from guys with dually trucks and one-car open flatbed trailers, to the big names in the industry with their enclosed, double-decker trailers.

Determining Your Needs
First decide what kind of transportation you need, and be realistic about it. Enclosed transporters cost more than open transporters, for example. But you don’t need an enclosed trailer for the project car that’s just headed across the state to a resto shop; vice versa, you don’t want an open trailer for the finely restored #1 car you just spent six figures to purchase.

Once you’ve settled on a budget, figure out how long you can wait for your car to go from Point A to Point B. The reality of transporting cars across the country means that the transporter has to move more than one car at a time. That means multiple stops and thus a longer wait. A more expensive transporter might carry fewer cars and cut the travel time, while less expensive transporters tend to take longer.

Prepping for Transport
On your end, you should not let the car on the trailer without a pre-shipping inspection done by yourself or a trusted representative. Nor should you let the driver leave after dropping your car off without a post-shipping inspection. Pictures before and after to back up the inspections are advisable, as well. Without at least the two inspection reports, any claims of damage against the carrier will be difficult, if not impossible, to prove.

If the car is running, charge the battery and leave about a quarter tank of gas. Let the driver know if the car leaks any fluids and if it requires any unusual operating instructions.

Also, try to minimize the amount of stuff riding along with the car. If anything must ride with the car, secure it in the trunk and include an itemized list with the pre- and post-shipping inspections.

Finally, you should feel secure shipping with your chosen company. Any uneasy feelings usually mean there’s something you’ve overlooked for the sake of thrift or expediency. You’ll likely only use the company’s services once or just a handful of times, and saving a hundred dollars or a couple of days of transit time isn’t worth the sleep you’ll lose worrying about the car.

Questions to Ask
How much does it cost?
“It depends,” is the short answer. Fuel prices, distance and door-to-door services can all add to the price.

Does the company specialize in collector cars?
If they do, they know not to handle your collector car like cattle headed off to market.

Does the company have a U.S. Department of Transportation number?
Federal regulations require a USDOT number for interstate commerce, and 25 of the 50 states require all commercial vehicles to obtain a USDOT number.

Does the company have comprehensive insurance that covers its cargo as well as its truck and trailer?
Have the company mail or fax you a copy of its insurance policy. $100,000 liability on transported vehicles is common.

What is the company’s policy on deposits?
Is it non-refundable and when does the company require the deposit?

What is the company’s payment policy?
Strictly cash, do they accept money orders, do they accept checks or do they take credit cards? Do not ship with a company that demands payment in full before the car is dropped off.

Where does the company drop off and pick up cars?
Most trucks and trailers can’t fit down or turn around on narrow residential streets, so they’ll need a big parking lot for loading and unloading.